Canada Environmental Issues

GPS & E.Q. GPS: SS6G7a. Explain the major environmental concerns of Canada regarding acid rain and pollution of the Great Lakes, the extraction and use of natural resources on the Canadian Shield, and timber resources. E.Q.: How have acid rain, pollution, mining, and the timber industry impacted Canada?

Vocabulary Extraction: removal Acid rain: acidic clouds or rain droplets Algal bloom: rapid increase of algae in lakes Slag: leftover rocks from mining Clear-cutting: cutting down all the trees in an area

ACID RAIN

PROBLEM Dead Trees! Dead Fish! Damaged buildings & statues! Causes: burning fossil fuels (cars & factories) makes sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide SO2 , CO2 , NO2 + water in the air = ACID RAIN KILLS plants, damages/kills trees, pollutes lakes & rivers, kills fish, damages stone buildings & statues

SOLUTION Canada passed laws to limit pollution Cleaner factories & cars Walk/bus/bike to work Still a problem: wind currents carry pollution from U.S. to Canada (50 – 75% comes from US!)

EXTRACTION & USE of NATURAL RESOURCES on the CANADIAN SHIELD

PROBLEM Dead plants! Dead fish! Poisoned water! Causes: Mining Blasting & digging with heavy machines Dumping slag Releasing SO2 into air Dumping chemicals into rivers & streams

SOLUTION Canada’s gov’t has made new rules for mining to reduce the amount of pollution in waterways

GREAT LAKES POLLUTION

PROBLEM Dead fish! Causes: Factories dumped phosphorus & human waste into Great Lakes Phosphorus is used in fertilizers, pesticides, toothpaste, detergents, explosives It causes algal bloom Algal bloom kills fish and plants in lakes

SOLUTION 1971: Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (U.S. & Canada); renewed 2002 Goal is to restore lakes’ environment by keeping chemicals out of lakes & reducing human sewage dumped into lakes 1972: gov’ts of Canada & U.S. signed agreement to reduce production of phosphorus

TIMBER INDUSTRY

PROBLEM No trees! No animal homes! Less clean air! Causes: clear-cutting Causes reduced water quality, erosion, loss of wildlife habitat Heavy machines compact forest floor – hard for new plants to grow

SOLUTION Canada’s gov’t & industries plant millions of seeds & seedlings each year Billions of dollars are spent to manage & protect the forests $100 million or more is spent each year by the logging industry to protect wildlife & habitats